What did I forget to do?

[robs944]

Or what did I do wrong??

Last week I replaced my thermostat and gasket (pretty easy) NOT!!!
Anyway after I was done I refilled the coolant and bled the system with no problem. I let the car sit about 4 days, I took the car back out for a drive, about 1 hour. When I got home I heard the dreaded fluid leaking from under the car. When I checked it there was coolant leaking from where the lower radiator hose connects to the water pump neck. I checked to make sure the hose was connected all the way and that the clamp was tight. I even removed the hose and put a new one on (just to be sure) Everything was good. Poured some water to bring coolant level back up and as soon as I put it in it started leaking again (didn't have to run the engine)

Where is it leaking from?? Is it possible that the thermostat gasket is not seated properly? Or maybe the retaining ring is not pushed back all the way??

Looking for some help

Thanks!!!

[Lawrence Coppari]

Would think your hose is the culprit. Even if the thermostat and cussed snap ring are screwed up, it should not leak externally. Can't you get under the car and see where it is coming from?

[robs944]

Lawrence,
Yeah that is what I thought to.
I can get under the car with my stands, I did this yesterday and all I could tell was that is was running down from around the hose that connects to the pump. I've cranked down on the clamp but it still runs out from around there????

I am going to step away from it for a little bit and re-approach later tonight. (as you know this can make all the difference)

Thanks for the reply, any other thoughts let me know.

Thanks

[Lawrence Coppari]

Just feel above the hose on the neck of the pump - assume it's similar to 951 - to see if it is wet above where hose slips over pump nozzle. Is your lower radiator hose old? Good luck and good idea about stepping back. Do it myself when things are not going well for me.....

[Mrmerlin]

Hey Rob, it sounds like the either the block off plate or the H2O pump is leaking, if you put on a newlower rad. hose then tightening the clamp will only damage your new hose.
now as an outside chance there is a bolt hole on the front of the head, and mine started leaking from this hole, I just put a bolt into the hole and the leak stopped to find out for shure, you will have to remove the front of the timing cover and the bolt hole will be under the cam gear pulley, I think it is a 6mm hole with a 10 mm bolt head.. good luck.Stan

[AFJuvat]

First off, check all the possibilities that the others mentioned - All of them are possible causes.

If it is indeed coming from the hose to waterpump connection, there are 2 additional possibilities - one not so bad and one downright nasty I'm afraid.

1. Cracked/worn hose

2. Cracked waterpump housing - Especially if you did a lot of pulling/pushing/twisting to get the old thermostat out - The older style pumps are more prone to damage because the thermostat is deeper into the pump than on the newer style.

Take a step back and then examine everything completely- I would suggest draining they system, removing the hose, and examining everything carefully.

Best of Luck

AFJuvat

[robs944]

Thanks for the tips.

Well after taking some time away I went back to it yesterday. Upon further inspection the problem was with the elbow hose that connects the heater rail to the top of the H2O pump, there was a hole in the hose, the end that connects to the pump.
This explains why I thought it was coming from the lower rad hose, it was dripping down the pump and the lower hose.

Thank god that's all it was....... AFJuvat, I was afraid it was a cracked pump!

New hose should be here tomorrow ($3.30) and off I go.......

Once again thanks for the help!!!

See Ya